‘Applegeeks’

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Applegeeks is an anime-style Web comic drawn by two desi students at University of Maryland, College Park, Mohammad ‘Hawk’ Haque and Ananth Panagariya. They got a shout-out in last week’s Newsweek for a potential book deal:

Haque

Panagariya

As a sign that they’re settling in, some of the parents of these twentysomethings are beginning to see that prestige can be measured in more than M.D.s. “In the end, if you do excel, you’re going to succeed in your field,” [Arvind Panagariya, an economics professor at Columbia University] concedes, referring to his 22-year-old son, whose Web comic Applegeeks is in negotiations to be published as a book. [Link]

It’s lushly drawn with mostly geek humor, but Haque occasionally throws in references to Islam and discrimination:

Mr. Squirrely – The squirrel with mysterious powers and the ability to communicate with Hawk. Possibly a delusion brought on by Hawk’s Ramadan fasting…

Jayce torturing Hawk during Ramadan. Ramadan is a Muslim holiday which calls for fasting. Hawk follows this tradition and during it, Jayce often teases him by eating immense portions of food. Mr. Squirrely’s first appearance is during one of Hawk’s fasts. [Link]

UMD is also the alma mater of Liberty Meadows creator Frank Cho. That’s at least three Asian-American cartoonists from one campus — must be something in the water. But both strips’ obsessions with cartoon vixens is classic geek.

Related post: Smashing icons

21 thoughts on “‘Applegeeks’”

  3. Nice find Manish. And geez, cut it out with the self-abuse—you’re taking away the hopes of innocent bystanders. :-p

  5. That means you’re not a geek.

    and here I thought it was because I was a FOB 😉

    so explain to this clueless FOB what the difference is between a geek and a nerd, because I’ve definitely been called the latter.

    Congrats, you will probably successfully reproduce 😉

    I’m a FOB, we always reproduce 😛

  6. Lots of people disagree, and I’ve heard it varies geographically, but I hold that geek is more affectionate and less strongly implies social or romantic ineptitude, is more inclusive in the subject matter of obsession, and is slightly more unisex. “geeky chic” is a phrase that makes sense. I feel that geeks are generally more aesthetic. Nerds, on the other hands, feels more like a bully’s insult to me, much more strongly implies social and romantic ineptitude in a kind of mean way, with overtones of sloppiness, and is much more narrowly focused on technology and science as the intellectual obsession . The strong associations of being uncomfortable with girls implies that it’s a label for straight guys.

    Though of course there’s also probably an element of subversive cooption in that geeky types have themselves adopted the use of the word nerd, and adapted it to fit their own sense of self-celebration, much as punk was 30+ years ago.

  8. Isn’t UMD also the place where the creator of Boondocks graduated from?

    Nerds, on the other hands, feels more like a bully’s insult to me

    I would equate nerd with an amount of booksmarts and awkwardness, whereas geeks can be socially awkward and have no booksmarts. I just had this debate with my little sister; whether as I name called her in that big sister way, if it was appropriate for me to call her “Geek.” or “Nerd.”

  9. Definition of Nerd and Geek according to me

    Doggie Howser is a nerd. Nerd can have (not necessarily) a negative connotation. A nerd is someone who is entrenched.

    A geek can be a roller blading, coffee house, not included in the in-crowd. Twins from Harry Porter are geeks for that matter Harry Porter himself is sometimes a geek. A geek someone away from the main stream

  10. See, Taz, that’s almost exactly the opposite of how I frame it. I think it’s a coastal thing.

    Manish: :-p Thbbbpt. Takes one to know one.

  11. Good job, geeks & nerds, but your definitions are leaving a whole bunch of us nerd-geeks, geek nerds, geeky-nerds, geekish nerds, nerdish-geeks, nerdy-geeks out of your books.

    Signed Nerdy-Geek (not a geeky-nerd on the other hand – I would never claim to be a nerd-geek)

  12. Nerd: Lacking certain basic interpersonal skills, accompanied with some level of insecurity and lack of self-confidence. Often makes highly inappropriate and misguided comments — “tries too hard”. Imagine the polar opposite of Pierce Brosnan in 007 mode or the anti-George Clooney, and you’ll get the idea. However, note that this is primarily about behaviour and personality, not just looks.

    Geek: Has a high level of skills and/or interest in some obscure, but potentially specialised and highly-complex area.

    Sometimes a geek can be also be a nerd and so there can be some overlap between the two, but not always.

  13. Which category do people who discuss/argue over the definition of “nerd” and “geek” fall in to?

  15. Sometimes a geek can be also be a nerd and so there can be some overlap between the two, but not always.

    uuughhh…i know that one all too well. they’re THE scariest……well, ok….right up in that category.

  16. Nerd: Lacking certain basic interpersonal skills, accompanied with some level of insecurity and lack of self-confidence. Often makes highly inappropriate and misguided comments — “tries too hard”. Imagine the polar opposite of Pierce Brosnan in 007 mode or the anti-George Clooney, and you’ll get the idea. However, note that this is primarily about behaviour and personality, not just looks.

    Naah, that’s the definition of ‘Dork’.

    A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia. A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one. A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.

    According to these people: http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=9935030990046738815

    (Pure Nerd 65% Nerd, 39% Geek, 39% Dork)

  17. I like Shruti’s suggestion and bengali’s definitions best 😛

    Ohh and to everyone out there: Happy Belated International Women’s Day!!

  18. Aaron MacGruder, creator of The Boondocks, DID come from UMD-College Park.

    If I’m not mistaken, both “The Boondocks” and “Liberty Meadows” started out as comics in the college newspaper.

  19. ah ha ha If that is the definition of a geek then I am proud to be one!( oh wait… I was never ashamed of it in the first place :P)

  20. Someone told me that it’s OK to be a nerd, because at least you have brains, the absolute worse would be to be a “dumb nerd.”